By default, the labels of form elements in Zend Form are escaped. Sometimes, like in check mark boxes for Terms of Use, it makes sense to add some HTML to this. You can turn off escaping - but just be careful! (more…)

If you use the jQuery Validation plugin, and of course, you follow an amazing PHP Programmer and now have twitter boxes on all your forms, you might need to validate it some day. I wrote this method for it. (more…)

I’ve heard the argument so many times: “I’m just too busy to do my own website” This usually is followed by pleading statements leading to the fact that no one is paying them to do their own website - like their current workload is paying them. (more…)

I have a new love affair… PHP’s DateTime object. I’m not sure when it started, but it’s going on strong now. If you haven’t taken a look at it, I invite you to run over there now and just look at the methods. If that isn’t enough, let me give you a bit of example code… see if this makes you really want to do it: (more…)

A couple years ago, I developed this concept I call “Overtake User.” Basically, in every application I build, I build in the ability for the currently logged-in support specialist or admin to become someone else. Now, this is different than just viewing the user’s information and records. This actually let’s the current user become the other user. This is helpful also for scenarios where the user is “seeing something strange” but you can’t see it.... (more…)

For the most part, ZF can capture any of your hard errors. It will generate an error 500. You’ve seen them, don’t lie… I’ve seen them way too many times. However, in my production application, I capture these with a specific controller. And because I love Unit Testing, I want to make sure that I test my implementation of my omg-this-is-broken setup. (more…)